Preview: Florida Atlantic at Georgia

September 15, 2012|Reuters

Seventh-ranked Georgia gets a break from the SEC grind with a Saturday night home game against overmatched Florida Atlantic. The Bulldogs are coming off a 41-20 win at SEC newcomer Missouri in which they scored the game's final 24 points. They face seven straight conference games after this cupcake from the Sun Belt. The Owls, coming off a 31-17 loss to Middle Tennessee State, are rebuilding under new coach Carl Pelini after last year's 1-11 debacle. Heâs the second coach in the FAU programâs existence, following founder Howard Schnellenberger.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, CSS. LINE: Georgia -42.5

ABOUT FLORIDA ATLANTIC (1-1): Senior QB Graham Wilbert has hit 35 of 45 throws this season, with three TDs and no INTs. He looks much improved over last year when he tossed 15 INTs against seven TDs. Wilbert has a big-play wideout in Byron Hankerson, who averages 17.6 yards per catch and has two TD receptions. But the Owls rank just 114th nationally in scoring (12.0).

ABOUT GEORGIA (2-0): The Bulldogs welcome back two defensive starters from suspension: corner Sanders Commings and linebacker Chase Vasser. But safety Bacarri Rambo and linebacker Alec Ogletree remain suspended, according to reports. Commings and Vasser will aid a unit led by All-American OLB Jarvis Jones, who forced two fumbles and made a key interception last week. True freshman RB Todd Gurley (9.2 yards per carry, 3 TDs) has provided a nice complement to the high-octane passing attack led by Heisman candidate Aaron Murray.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Georgia senior WR Marlon Brown broke out last week with eight catches for 106 yards and two TDs.

2. The Bulldogs are 30-1 in non-conference home games under coach Mark Richt.

3. Pelini, the former Nebraska defensive coordinator, replaced Schnellenberger, who was Richtâs old college coach at Miami.